Portable mixing machine



Oct. 30,1951 P. 'ARANT 2,573,296

PORTABLE MIXING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1948 314 3 Sheets-Sheet l flTTOENEY Oct. 30, 1951 P. ARANT 2,573,295

PORTABLE MIXING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1948 5 SheetsSheet 2 pseey HERA/7; nwavroe KITTOENEV Patented Oct. 30, 1951 PORTABLE MIXING MACHINE Perry Arant, San Gabriel, Calif., assignor to El Sereno Machine Works, Anusa, Calif., a corporation of California Application June 18, 1948, Serial No. 33,879

4 Claims. (o1. 259,-177) This invention relates to mixing machinery, and more particularlyto machinery having a mixing or tumbling barrel such as is used in mixing cement with rock, gravel, or other aggregate in the formation ofconcrete or plaster,.and in mixing other materials, such as feeds. 1

'An object of my present invention is to provide a mixing machine for general mixing purposes which-may be easily disassembled into a few parts which may individually be lifted and transported with convenience, so as to permit portability of the machine while maintaining it at a size permitting substantial mixing capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mixing machine suitable for use Within a building, and so constructed that it may be carried in sections to any floor or room where it may be needed, and set up and operated from any electric power outlet, thereby saving the time. and labor ordinarily required for transporting mix from distant points. I

A further object of the invention is to provide amixing machine constructed of individually portable parts which in their assembled state are so balanced as normally to seek and maintain a position suitable for mixing, and to be easily tilted to a pouring position when containing amix.

A further object is so to design the several sections or units of the mixing machine that they are subject to being joined together and operatively interconnected, as well as disconnected and separated from each other, with. the utmost ease and without the necessity of using any tools.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I .do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred forms within the scope of my invention-as set forth in the claims.

.. Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a mixing machine embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the mixing machine assembled and in mixing position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational View, looking upwardly and from the left of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view on a slightly re.- duced scale, showing the supporting stand and motor mount in operating position, portions. of the figure being broken away to reduce its size.

Figure 5 is anotherperspective view. of the supporting stand, showing it in partially folded position. a

Figure .6. is an exploded perspective. view .on an enlarged scale, illustrating the pivoting mechanism by. which they motor and mixing barrel are pivotally supported by the stand.

Figure? is a medial longitudinal vertical sec-. tional view, taken on the line 'I'I of Figure 13 and on an enlarged scale, with the direction ofview. as indicated, illustrating the mechanism for attaching themixing barrel to the motor, and for driving the mixing barrel from the motor.v

Figure 8 is a further enlarged sectional detail of the mechanism shown in Figure 7 for attaching the mixing barrel to themotor. Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectionalview. taken on the line 99 of Figure'l, and onthe. scale thereof, with the direction of View as indi-; cated, illustrating the gears for driving the mix: ingbarrel fromthe motor. Specifically describing that embodimentof my invention which has been chosen for illustration and description herein, myportable mixing machine comprises a mixing barrel I2, a driving mechanism indicated generally at I3, a folding stand I4, and may include suitable leverage means such as a handle I5, all as shown in sepa rated, or exploded, view in Figure 1. The mix: ing barrel l2 mayhave the conventional form of conic frustums joined at their wide ends and having a closed head I6 and an open end I'I, so,

as to require downward tilting of the open end H to effect a complete discharge of a charge of mixed material. The barrel may also have a plu rality of blades I8, preferably diagonally dis;

posed on the inner surface of the barrel for efr fecting a lifting and turn-over of the mix. q Se v cured tothe closed 'head l6 by bolts I9 is a gear plate 20 havinga hub 2| with an axial recess-22 and provided with a set screw 23 adapted to entef the recess 22.

The driving mechanism I3 preferably coin jprises'an electric motor 25 m'oun ted on abox frame 26 although'a'ny'other type of prime mover,- such" as an internal combustion engine mite used if desired. The upper portion ofthe box frame 26 containsa. journal box Zlfitted with bearings 28, and havinglubr'ication means such as a grease cup 29,- and best shown in Figures}? and ha t. flfitiei ai qjt e J na 21 and is secured therein by a bolt 3| which holds the inner end of the shaft against the closed end 32 of the journal box which thereby provides an end-thrust bearing for the shaft, restraining the shaft 30 against movement to the right with respect to its bearings 28, as viewed in Figures 7 and 8. Movement of the shaft 36 in the opposite direction with respect to its bearings is prevented by meansof a pin 3| extending axially through the shaft and having its ends protruding therefrom into the concave face of a cupped thrust washer 32 contacting the outer end of the associated bearing 28. The outwardly extending end of the shaft 30 is adapted to enter the recess 22 of the gear plate and to be detachably engaged therein by the set screw 23 so as to hold the barrel I2 longitudinally rigid with the driving mechanism I3 as a temporary unit therewith, but rotatable about its longitudinal axis when the shaft 30 is rotated in the journal box 27. This construction has the advantage that the shaft 33 does not extend through the head l6 into the barrel I2, but does have an elongated and lubricated bearing surface in the gearings 28; and the relatively heavy gear plate 2Iland hub 2I provide strength for supporting the barrel I2 in coaxial extension of the shaft 30'.

The motor .drives a shaft 34' which may be secured to the lower face of the box frame 26 by ajournal box 35 fitted with a bearing 36 and provided with lubrication means such as a grease cup 31. Driving of the shaft from the motor 25 is preferably effected by a V-belt 38 running on pulleys 39 and 49 and protected by a guard plate 4|. A pinion gear 42 is mounted on the shaft 34 so as to mesh with the teeth of the gear plate 20 when the gear plate is mounted upon theshaft and the latter is secured in the journal box 21 by the bolt 3 I.

The stand I4 is preferably of folding or collapsible construction, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and may be formed of two U-shaped members 44 and 45'connected at their open ends by hinges 46 and adapted to be braced in extended position by brace bars 41 pivoted on the one member and securable to the other member by wing nuts- 48. At least one of the members 44 and 45', which may be the member 44, has its upwardly extending arms 49 of tubular form and open at theirupper ends 50.

A-supporting bracket 52 is secured, as by welding (see Figure 6), to the'box frame 26 and has forwardly and then laterally extending arms 53.- Journal boxes 54,- which may be Simple pipe T fittings, are mounted on the lateral extensions of the arms 53 so as to allow relative swinging or pivotal movement of the bracket 52, and are retained on the arms 53 by pins 55. The journal boxes 54 are provided with-support pins 56 extending at right angles to the portions of the arms 53journalled in the journal-boxes. The support pins 56 may be si le spike-like members secured in the T-stems of the pipe T fittings, and are adapted to be inserted in the open tubular ends 50 of the stand I4 tosupport the driving mechanism I3, and to permit the, driving mechanism, or the driving mechanism and the barrel I2 assembled therewith as a temporary unit, to be pivoted in a vertical plane with the arms 53 as an axis.

The arms 53 extend forwardly of the box frame 26 sufficiently to cause their pivotal axis to beso disposedjrelatively to the center ofgravity of thegunit formed 'by the driving mechanism I3 and barrel I2*that the um't is urged-by gravity to an inclination in which the open end I! of the barrel is directed upwardly to retain a mix within the barrel. A stop, such as a cross bar 58 on the stand I4 engageable with the journal box 35 on the bottom of the box frame 26 or other non-rotatingportion of the driving mechanism I3, may be provided to limit the inclination of the barrel I2. The handle I5 may have a tubular side extension 59 by which it may be secured to one of the arms 53 by a pin 60 fitting in holes Bi and 62 to provide leverage by which the end I! of the-barrel I2 may be inclined downwardly against'gravity to effect the discharge of mix from the barrel. As is clearly illustrated in Figure 6, the arms 53 are substantially identical and each is provided with one of the holes 62, either of, which is adapted to receive the pin 60. Hence, the handle [5 may be mounted in operative position optionally to either side of the apparatus. This makes for greater convenience and adaptability to different working conditions, such as those involving different preferred directions of approach, both while-supplying-mazterials to the mixer to be mixed thereby, and in order to-receive the completed mix from the mixer.

The mixing machine may be transported in disassembled conditionto any place accessible to its individual parts and convenient to the work to be accomplished and there quickly and easily set up and placed in operation. The folding stand (4 may first beset up and braced-by the brace bars 41. The driving mechanism I3'may then be assembled upon the stand I4 by placing the spike-like members 56 in the open ends 50 of the stand members 49. The shaft 30 will ordinarily be transported with the driving mecha-. nism I3 as a part thereof, but if removed therefrom it may be inserted in the journal box-.21 and secured by the bolt 3I. The driving mechanism I3 will swing downwardly uponthe'axis'of the arms 53' until it rests upon the cross bar 58, and the shaft 3!! will slide into the journal box ZIand remain there by its own weight until securedoby thebolt 3?. The barrel I2 maythen be placed in position to complete the tiltable driving'and mixing unit by engaging the outstand+ ing end of the shaft 35 in the recess 22 and securing it therein by the set screw 23. When the motor 25 is connected to a source of power, the mixing machineois ready for operation in the usual manner.

During the operation of the-machine, the barrel I2 will remaintilted with its open end I1 inclined upwardly to receive the materials to be mixed and to retain them during mixing. Through operation of the V-belt 38, shaft 34, pinion gear 42 and plate gear 20, the barrel is caused to rotate, with the shaft 30 rotating in the journal box 21. When a mix is completed, the barrel I2 may be inclined downwardly to discharge the mix-by means of the handle I5 while continuing to rotate. When-thehand-le is returned, the barrel will resume its former upwardly tilted position.

I claim:

1. A portable mixing machine comprising a mixing barrel, a driving mechanism, a shaft, means on said barrel for detachably securing. said barrel to one end of said shaft. coaxially therewith, means on saidjdriving'mech'anis'm for rotatably supporting the other end of said shaft, gears on said barrel and on said driving mechanism adapted to mesh when said shaft is so sup-v ported-by said driving mechanism and saidbar rel is so secured thereto, a stand having spaced upwardly extending tubular members open at their upper ends, journal boxes each having a member adapted to be inserted in one of said open upper ends, and means secured to said driving mechanism and journalled in said journal boxes for tiltably supporting said driving mechanism and said barrel as a unit on said stand, said journal boxes being so disposed with respect to the center of gravity of said unit when said barrel contains a normal charge of mix that said barrel is urged by gravity to assume a mix-retaining inclination.

2. A portable mixing machine comprising a mixing barrel, a driving mechanism attachable to said barrel for causing relative rotation thereof, a folding stand having spaced upwardly extending tubular members open at their upper ends, a pair of axially aligned journal boxes, a pin extending radially from each of said journal boxes, each of said pins being removably receivable in one of said open upper ends to re-' leasable mounting means comprising a plurality of pins carried by said driving mechanism in position for each of said pins to extend downwardly therefrom into one of said sockets whereby said driving mechanism is releasably retained in operating position upon said stand by gravity, and the other of said units comprising a mixing barrel and means for releasably mounting it on said driving mechanism to be supported and rotated thereby.

4. A portable mixing machine comprising two optionally inter-engageable or separable units. one of said units comprising a driving mechanism including a frame, a pair of spaced, axially aligned bearings carried by said frame, a shaft journaled in said bearings and having one end projecting to an accessible position clear of the remainder of said driving mechanism, a driving gear mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to and offset from the axis of said shaft, and means for rotating said driving gear, and the other of said units comprising a barrel, a driven gear rigidly affixed to an end of said barrel in coaxial alignment therewith, said gear comprising a central hub having a recess therein adapted to receive said extended end of said shaft therein and a rim operably engageable with said driving gear as said end of said shaft is received within said recess.

PERRY ARANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,321,082 Bergland Nov. 11, 1919 1,453,323 Palmeter May 1, 1923 1,453,634 Martin et a1. May 1, 1923 1,621,345 Anderson Mar. 15, 1927 2,176,874 St. John Oct. 24, 1939 2,179,104 Rybeck Nov. 7, 1939 2,207,011 Hopkins July 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 118,510 Australia May 25, 1944 

